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New Day
Illinois' Record-Breaking Cases; Clarifying Misconceptions about Return to Normal; Biden Video Goes Viral. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired October 26, 2020 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:30:00]
DR. NGOZI EZIKE, DIRECTOR, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: For a total of 9,418 deaths. These are people who started with us in 2020 and won't be with us at the Thanksgiving table.
Today, we are reporting 3,874 new cases for a total of 364,033 confirmed cases since the start of this pandemic.
Excuse me, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's OK. Get a Kleenex.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Now Chicago is instituting strict new measures to try to stop the spread.
And with us now is Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Mayor, that was heartbreaking to watch that -- that press conference.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT (D), CHICAGO, IL: Yes.
CAMEROTA: Why is Chicago -- why are cases in Chicago spiking?
LIGHTFOOT: Look, I think what we see is cases going up all over the country. Chicago is the lowest area for new cases in the entire state of Illinois, but we are definitely very concerned about the increase. And we see the pace of daily increases mimic what we saw at the height of the pandemic back in the spring, which is why we're starting to take additional measures, both to educate the public, to break through the COVID fatigue, but also to target interventions and areas that we are hoping will make a difference.
CAMEROTA: Well, I mean, obviously, cases are going up all over the country, but if you just compare Chicago to say New York, I mean here are a couple of numbers. The new cases in Chicago were 703, up 200 over the week before. In New York, they were 359, down from the prior week. In Chicago, I think at last check, your positivity rate was 7.1 percent. In New York it's 1.8 percent.
I'm not trying to do a victory lap by any stretch. I'm just saying that some cities seem to be able to control it a little bit better than Chicago. Is there something specific about Chicago's location or what's been going on there?
LIGHTFOOT: Well, I don't think you can do an apples to apples comparison between us and New York. Think about where New York was back in the spring. We never got there. But I think the difference is that we all around us, unlike New York, the northeast is one of the few areas of the country that you're not seeing this dramatic surge in cases.
Unfortunately, the Midwest has consistently been up for now for the last three weeks and so the virus, obviously, doesn't respect geographic boundaries. Everywhere around Chicago is going up.
And, again, we're in a better place than most localities in Illinois. Like, for example, Wisconsin is bright red everywhere and has been for some time. Indiana basically abandoned all restrictions and its cases are going up. Iowa has never imposed the kind of restrictions that one would expect in a responsible state. Its cases are going up.
So when you see the mobility of people traveling throughout the Midwest for jobs, for schools and so forth, it's not a total surprise, but it is absolutely quite distressing and we're trying to do everything that we can, but we have to all be in this together, meaning, as a region, we have to come up with a reason why agreements and solutions, otherwise we're never going to be able to see this virus under control.
CAMEROTA: How are your hospitals holding up?
LIGHTFOOT: We're starting to see a slight uptick in hospitalizations, not in ICU rooms, but definitely an uptick in hospitalizations, which is a cause for concern.
CAMEROTA: Here's what I believe you're doing in order to try to get your arms around this, nonessential businesses will close at 10:00 p.m., alcohol sales will stop at 9:00 p.m., bars, breweries, taverns without a food license cannot offer indoor service. You're suggesting limiting group sizes to six people or less, and face coverings must be worn both indoor and outdoor public settings.
Are those the activities that you think have caused the spike, in other words, how will non-essential businesses closing at 10:00 p.m., how will that help get the numbers down?
LIGHTFOOT: Well, this is all about mitigating the risk of gatherings, and making sure that people wear their masks. So we're trying to do a series of mitigation efforts to look at the places where we know that the risk is highest, for example in bars, and mitigate against that risk.
But the other thing we were trying to also do, and it's difficult to break through is, people are getting comfortable in their homes and they're having social gatherings. Those are huge source of the spread. So it's not just what you do outside of your home, it's also what you do inside your home, and making sure that you don't invite people in that are not part of your immediate family, or otherwise essential to be there, like a home care worker or something along those lines. [08:35:01]
That's where we're really seeing the spread. The case investigations, the contract tracing is pointing to home, social settings as the primary area of risk now.
CAMEROTA: Are you considering canceling Halloween for the city?
LIGHTFOOT: Well, we're not considering canceling Halloween, because, candidly, people are going to trick-or-treat anyway. But what we've done is we've put in a series of eight specific rules. We're talking about limiting the size of kids who are going around together. We're asking no haunted houses, no house parties. We are also really encouraging people not to have hand-to-hand contact with children as they're handing out candy and they've done a number of inventive things.
So we're just dealing with the reality that people are going to trick- or-treat no matter what, but what we're trying to do is really encourage people to do it safely. We've put out a series of PSAs on this very issue, and hope to get through Halloween safely, and without seeing any major spread.
CAMEROTA: Mayor Lori Lightfoot, thank you for your time. Obviously, we'll be watching very closely what happened in Chicago. Thanks so much for being here.
LIGHTFOOT: Absolutely.
CAMEROTA: One question we all have, as coronavirus cases hit new highs, what will life look like when this is all over? Will a vaccine mean the return to normalcy, and what will that look like?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:40:54]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just one quick comment here, Paul Begala, CNN analyst, a few moments ago was talking about how many cases there are in the White House in the president's circle, and the vice president's circle, and he made a comment that there are more cases in the White House grounds than all of the nation of Spain. Obviously, that's not true. Spain is seeing 20,000 or so new cases a day, and is in the midst of a terrible new second wave. Obviously there are a number of new cases inside the White House, not nearly that many, as in Spain. Not sure if Paul was talking about positivity rates or rates of new cases, but it goes without saying Spain is seeing tens of thousands of cases right now.
Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: OK, this morning, there are misconceptions about what life will look like once a coronavirus vaccine is developed. Tens of millions of Americans are also planning to vote or prepare to cast their ballot ahead of next week's election, with the number of infections and hospitalizations climbing at this alarming rate. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is separating fact
from fiction for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're on track to develop and distribute a vaccine before the end of the year and maybe substantially before.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Misconception one. Things will immediately go back to normal once we get a vaccine. That's going to be the case eventually, but it's not going to happen right away. So how long will it take? Dr. Anthony Fauci says it depends on a few factors.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The efficacy of a vaccine, is it 60 percent, 70 percent, 90 percent effective? As important is what is the uptake of the vaccine? Will people willingly get vaccinated?
GUPTA: CNN's latest poll from earlier this month shows that 51 percent of respondents say they would get vaccinated. But that number is way down for May, when 66 percent said they would.
Now once a vaccine is authorized or approved, it will still take months to distribute it.
ALEX AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We project having enough for every American who wants a vaccine by March to April, 2021.
GUPTA: Even then, former CDC director, Dr. Tom Frieden, reminds all of us, the public health precautions we've come to practice are still going to be necessary for some time.
DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, FORMER CDC DIRECTOR: We're still going to need to adjust our lives, reduce risk by wearing masks, not shaking hands, reducing risky indoor gatherings.
GUPTA: And eventually that's how you contain this virus. Misconception two, the flu shot will make you more susceptible to COVID-19. We've seen this argument being pushed on social media, even claiming there's a study to back it, but the study that's being referred to was published last year, before the novel coronavirus even existed, and it suggested the flu vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of seasonal coronaviruses, like the one that cause the common cold.
In fact, the author recently clarified, saying, quote, "results from this study should not be applied to or interpreted with COVID-19 in any way." Truth is, it's even more important this year to get a flu vaccine.
Misconception three, masks don't stop the spread of the coronavirus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope every one of you gets voted out who votes for a mask here today. GUPTA: When a mask mandate was ordered in Palm Beach, Florida, on June
24th, it wasn't without controversy, but the science has become clear, wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Let me try and show you. A study in "The Lancet" showed the chance of transmission of the virus without a face mask or a respirator is 17.4 percent. With a mask, 3.1 percent.
And do you remember the case of those two hairstylists in Missouri? They continued to work while sick with COVID-19 but they wore masks. Just to be clear, people should stay home if they're feeling sick, but when the CDC looked into this, they found that there were no new infections identified among the stylists' 139 clients. Why? The CDC says the community and company's face-covering policy likely mitigated the spread.
[08:45:00]
Wearing a mask helps you protect those around you.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Just so damned easy wearing a mask.
So a video of former Vice President Joe Biden is now going viral, two years after a fact. The story behind the hug that everyone's talking about. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: This morning, a video from 2018 has gone viral. It shows former Vice President Joe Biden comforting a Parkland family at an event weeks after the mass shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBRA HIXON, CHRIS HIXON'S WIFE: I'm Chris Hixon's wife.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: God bless you.
D. HIXON: Thank you.
COREY HIXON, FATHER KILLED IN PARKLAND MASSACRE: I want to go.
D. HIXON: This is Chris' son.
C. HIXON: I'm his son.
BIDEN: Well, how are you?
Thank you for hugging me.
Are you OK? Are you OK? You'll be OK. We're going to be OK. [08:50:00]
We're going to be OK. I promise you. OK, I promise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: That's the vice president embracing Corey Hixon. Corey is the son of Debra and Chris Hixon. Chris was the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who was killed trying to save students during the Parkland shooting.
And joining me now, Debra and Corey Hixon. Thank you both so much for being with us.
Debbie, I know that you didn't even know the video was being taken at the time. I don't even think you knew about it until it was sort of circulated over the last several weeks. Just tell me about that moment. What was going on?
DEBRA HIXON, WIFE OF MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: We were at an -- first of all, good morning.
We were at an event at the March For Our Lives and it was a Gabby Gifford event and they were, you know, speaking to the students and they had invited the families. And Joe Biden coming was a huge surprise to everybody. And he spent time just talking to the students about advocacy and being part of their community, and, you know, what it meant to be a leader. And then he came over and asked if these were the families. And he was coming over to say hello. And, you know, time is short, he went to leave, and Corey being Corey, he wanted his minute. And so, you know, it was very sweet of Vice President Biden to turn around and not just hug Corey, but you saw a little clip of that. He actually spent a couple of minutes telling him about his own life experiences and that he knew that the country would come together to comfort Corey.
BERMAN: And I should have said at the very beginning, Debbie, obviously, we're still so sorry for your loss. I know it's more than two years ago, but feels like yesterday to all of us, and I know the loss is still very real to you.
So to see that video and not necessarily know it was out there, Debbie, what's it been like to see that circulating over the last several weeks?
D. HIXON: It's been so surreal. I mean I -- I think for Corey and I, we are just so happy that there's -- there's kindness that's being spread and doesn't -- for us it's not political. It really was just someone being so kind and compassionate to see that Corey was struggling and that, you know, to take a minute to just act like he was part of his family and give him the comfort that he needed at that time. And even now sometimes I just -- I don't have it in me. I can't explain why we're in this situation or, you know, how it's going to be better because I don't know that it's going to be better.
BERMAN: So, Corey -- COREY HIXON, FATHER KILLED IN PARKLAND MASSACRE: Yes.
BERMAN: What was that hug like? Did it make you feel better?
C. HIXON: Yes.
Have you had a chance to connect with the vice president at all since then?
C. HIXON: No.
D. HIXON: No.
C. HIXON: Just that once.
BERMAN: And he said to you that he knows what it's like, and that things will get better.
Did those words make a difference to you?
C. HIXON: Yes, actually we found out yesterday he had a daughter that passed.
D. HIXON: Yes, in the car accident.
He had mentioned to Corey that he had lost his wife and his -- and children. So he understood what it felt like. And that really stuck with Corey. And yesterday we were just doing a little research and realize that he had lost not just his wife in that car accident, but they had an infant daughter that they lost as well.
BERMAN: Yes, sometimes, Corey, it's nice to know that other people have gone through similar things and turned out OK, right?
C. HIXON: Yes. Well, Tommy (ph) was at the table. He lost a daughter, too.
D. HIXON: Does it make you feel better that someone --
C. HIXON: Yes.
D. HIXON: Yes, they can comfort you and let you know that life does move forward --
C. HIXON: Uh-huh.
D. HIXON: And that we can get through it, right?
C. HIXON: Yes.
D. HIXON: Yes.
BERMAN: It's such an important lesson.
And, Debbie, I know you're doing something new in your life right now. You're running for school committee there. Why? D. HIXON: Well, I'm a teacher. I've been a teacher in the school
system for the last 32 years. And I've been working hard ever since the shooting, on school safety, on a national level, and the seat is an open seat, and it just, you know, sometimes something just feels right, and it feels that right that I'm the right person for this position, that I can bring more awareness and urgency to school safety.
Bit I -- this is a system that I have spent my whole life in. I love it. I'm entrenched in it and dedicated. And so I'm excited for the opportunity to serve my community and give back since they've given so much to us.
BERMAN: And, Corey, I know you have now done something for Joe Biden. What have you done?
C. HIXON: Voted.
BERMAN: You voted for former Vice President Joe Biden?
D. HIXON: See it was Corey's first time voting in this election.
C. HIXON: Yes.
[08:55:00]
D. HIXON: And he was excited to vote for two people, his mom and Joe Biden.
BERMAN: Well, listen, Corey, thank you very much for being with us today. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. You know, we all need a hug sometimes, and we all need to know that things are going to get better, and you help us know that things can get better. So thanks for being with us.
D. HIXON: Thank you. Thanks so much.
BERMAN: And, Debbie, our thanks to you as well. We really appreciate your time.
D. HIXON: Thank you. You have a great day.
BERMAN: All right, you, too.
CAMEROTA: Wow. I should have watched that viral video before we just played it on the air. That was so heart-rending to see him -- to see Joe Biden say, and are you OK, and to see him shake his head -- I mean shake his head, no, I'm not all right right now.
BERMAN: Look, you know, loss is so hard. It's so hard. And sometimes, as Corey was saying, you know, you need to know that others have been through it, and others have fought their way through it, and that one hug, you know, may have made a difference.
CAMEROTA: It did. I mean, obviously, it did. It did mean a lot, so much to that family. And, I mean, I think it did make Corey feel better, even though he had just suffered such a devastating loss of losing his dad, and how sympathetic and empathetic that Corey then feels for Joe, that he lost his infant daughter, that he didn't know that day.
BERMAN: Again, our thanks to Debbie and Corey Hixon. And Corey voted for the first time. Voting is something we all should do. And it's sort of inspiring to hear that.
All right, our coverage continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:00:00]
